The juvenile Bald Eagle’s from the nest on Montlake Cut are both encountering significant challenges. Charlie, the one who fell, is trying to recover at PAWS. Lucy, the one left behind, is trying to survive in a rapidly disintegrating nest. Read the progress reports regarding Monty and Marsha’s offspring in this week’s post on:

Say hooray for our neighbors who rallied Saturday to support our beloved Montlake Boulevard Market in their clash with Washington’s Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

Saturday afternoon, Montlake elders, “middlers” and youngsters–nearly 50 strong–gathered to protest and parade at the Market corner near the bridge. They waved, held homemade signs high, chanted “Save Our Market”, and “12-Year Dirt Pile, No! No! No!” Hundreds of cars and pedestrians passed (slowly, of course– it was game day). Everyone took a look. How could they help it? Got some honks! Some shouts! Some thumbs up!

Our BLVD Market-WSDOT confrontation and rally caught media attention too. Friday, KIRO Radio featured an interview with Montlake activist, Kathy Laughman. She told how WSDOT provoked the planned rally by a surprise summer pronouncement that the Market & gas station land was needed for 520 replacement work. Montlake objected immediately. (*Hear Kathy’s interview at one of these sites below.)

On game day afternoon, KJR Sports Radio’s Softy Mahler, broadcasting from the Montlake Blvd Market parking-lot-turned-tailgating space, gave MCC President Bryan Haworth time to put in a plug for the cause. A tad later, KIRO TV news reporter Deborah Home & video crew swooped in and stayed around to capture the protest rally issue in time for broadcast Saturday evening.

Our David and Goliath clash is getting some City-wide notice. We may even be seeing some WSDOT reps’ willingness to negotiate. In the interest of the Boulevard Market, of Montlake, and of the principle of “fairness to the little guy,” we need to keep up our support effort.

WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation) is having a 520 West Approach Bridge North construction update on Wednesday, Oct 5th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the Graham Visitors Center in the Arboretum.

The WSDOT project team for the “Montlake Phase” will provide a short presentation with key project updates. Attendees will be also able to share thoughts regarding this next phase of SR 520 construction.

This is an opportunity to let them know how we feel about the proposed taking of the Montlake Boulevard Market and the gas station so please try to attend this important meeting.

SEATTLE — Metro Transit bus service could be changing around the University of Washington and Capitol Hill in preparation for two new Link light rail stations that will open next year.

Metro Bus route 25 and route 43 are lifelines for some longtime Montlake neighbors, but with Link light rail service coming to UW and Capitol Hill in March, seven bus routes are now on the chopping block.

“It is a problem for us,” said Linnea Hirst.

Metro Transit says the purposed cuts will restructure the transit network around the new light rail stops, ultimately providing more service to more riders on designated corridors.

“There are some routes that are being purposed for elimination,” said Jeremy Fichter with Metro Transit. “Most of the rides on those routes will continue to have other options available with fixed route transit routes.”

While in person testimony is more impactful, if you can’t make the meeting, you can email, or better yet call, the City Council Transportation Committee Chair Tom Rasmussen directly at 206-684-8808 or tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov.

Below are some Montlake focused comments shared by Lionel Job.

The Bill Dawson trail plan described in WSDOT plan is in jeopardy because NOAA is showing no interest in letting WSDOT use some of the land it controls. If NOAA prevails, the new Bill Dawson tunnel could be further compromised. It is very important that the city include language asking for WSDOT to produce an alternate above grade or at grade solution to enable pedestrians to cross SR520 safely and directly, in case WSDOT cuts back on the Bill Dawson trail features. We can’t accept any form of value engineering.

The city needs to create a proper traffic, safety and transportation plan that covers much more than the immediate vicinity of SR-520. WSDOT needs to help fund it and abide by it.

The loss of Bus routes 43 and 25 combined with an interchange that will make foot access of the light rail station difficult needs to be addressed now. These routes must be maintained -at least until the effects of the interchange are experienced and understood. While not related to the resolution, it is important for the council to hear this at this time so that they intervene with King County.

SEATTLE — Residents in Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood complain of a parking invasion. They say hide and parkers are capitalizing on their free street parking, leaving little room for the people who live there.

“All of a sudden there was this wave of people commuting in for the day by four or five in the morning,” said resident Greg…

SEATTLE – Homeowners in Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood aren’t happy about a city proposal to put up a message sign along 24th Avenue E. near Lee Street.

Dynamic Message Signs are large overhead message boards that recommend different routes, limit travel speeds and warn of any other traffic problems. The signs are about 17 feet wide, seven feet tall and stand about 19 feet above the road.

“We’re appalled it’s being considered for a residential area,” said Seattle resident Heather Lowe. “It has no place and it shouldn’t be put up in that neighborhood, but only in industrial areas.

Scott Kubly, director of the Seattle Department of Transportation, told council members Tuesday the location is important for the sign because of Boyer Avenue E, a minor arterial, is the only arterial street in the area with a direct connection to an alternate crossing of the Ship Canal, the University Bridge.

Proposal for big overhead traffic sign riles Montlake residents

Residents are annoyed by the city’s plan to erect an overhead, real-time traffic message sign at 24th Avenue East and East Lee Street, where northbound traffic flows downhill toward Highway 520 and the University of Washington.

For only the second time, the city would be putting one of these steel-supported structures next to single-family homes.

If you were in the Montlake area just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday you no doubt saw the flash, heard the thunder and felt the impact when lightning hit in the Arboretum. Luckily, the destructive force focused on a tall Grand Fir tree, instead of one of our homes. See the photos and read the story on:

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